Oyster Shell Bed

[AquaNewb]

Hello,

My question is. Has anyone used Crushed Oyster Shell mixed with sand for there tanks. The Oyster shell would make up for lack of calcium in the sand wouldn't it? This is just a would it work question. It just seems that if you can use it for making your own live rock it would be just as benifical to use it as your substrate also. Maybe I don't know something about what else the oyster shell does. I just picked up 150lbs of the stuff too make my own live rock. It costs about $6.50 for a 50# bag. Pretty cheap for a sand bed if I could use it.

Plus I hope to start a thread on Making my own live rock this weekend.

Please guys, Let me know your take on the "oyter shell sand"
topic. Would love to save a little $$$ if I can if not I guess its off to the LFS to buy carib sea.


Thanks,

 

[SeanT]

Well in order for the shells to feed your tank calcium and alkalinity you would have to have a low pH.
The shells contain a significant source of phosphates in them and will begin to leech that out long before ca and alk.
I would advise you to not use them.

Sean

 

[AquaNewb]

so is that why when making the rock with it you have to cure it so long. is it to lower the phosphates?

 

[ODOG]

i'm not sure about the phosphates but oyster shells have a high surface ph. without curing your ph could/would spike up and over 9.